Page 22 - ISSUE 40

COLE SEELY
450 SX / 5TH
IMAGE /MPG WORDS /HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / WILSON
>> Cole Seely, like his ‘buddy’ Jason Anderson, has enjoyed a relatively quiet season. He has not finished worse than sixth place this year but he has only finished on the box twice. The factory Honda rider has been very fast at times throughout the year but has been in a bit of a funk of late. He seems to be right on the edge of that podium or race- win level speed so he entered Daytona hoping it’s unorthodox and outdoor style would help him break free.
Seely had a solid qualifying performance coming out with the eighth fastest lap time. His heat race started a little rough coming around lap one in seventh place. He really wanted to transfer to the main straight out of the heat because extra laps on the brutal Daytona course can be exhausting. He went all in passing Grant and Martin midway through to get into fifth. He needed one more spot to transfer but Justin Brayton was not about to
let go of it. Seely hounded him for the final lap and a half trying several different lines but Brayton held strong and held onto the spot sending Seely to the semi. He got out to a better start in his semi rounding lap one in second behind Justin Bogle. Seely was setting up a pass when Bogle made it easy by stuffing the front end in the sand section. Seely inherited the lead and never looked back. He took the win and was on to the main event.
He kicked off the main event with an average start in sixth place. He made quick work
of Weimer and positioned himself in fifth. He held that position for a while despite trying desperately to make a move on Chad Reed. This allowed Jason Anderson to creep into the picture and get around him sending him back to sixth. Seely would not be back there for long as he would follow Anderson around Reed thanks to a loopout crash from the veteran. Back in fifth, Seely set his sights on Brayton yet again and this time made the pass. From there he looked to have fourth place on lockdown until Ryan Dungey seem- ingly came out of nowhere on the final lap. His presence startled the unsuspecting Seely and the two had a knock down drag out fight to the checkers. They banged bars through the last few corners but Dungey slammed the door shut right before the finish. So Seely would come away with fifth, maintaining his season long consistency but he will leave the sunshine state still looking to get back on the box.
22 GRITMOTO • MARCH 12, 2017